
Presolana Pass
Italy, europe
7.95 km
1,297 m
hard
Year-round
# Passo della Presolana
Tucked away in Bergamo Province in Italy's Lombardy region, Passo della Presolana sits at a cool 1,297 meters (4,255 feet) above sea level—and it's absolutely worth the drive to get there.
The road up is fully paved (SPexSS671), but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a leisurely cruise. This route is serious business, with tight hairpin bends that'll keep you on your toes and grades that hit 14% in some sections. It's the kind of climb that'll get your adrenaline pumping—and your car working hard.
You've got two main starting points, depending on your preference. Coming from Dezzo di Scalve, you're looking at a shorter but spicier 7.95 km push with 548 meters of elevation gain (averaging 6.9%). Prefer a gentler pace? Start from Rovetta instead, and you'll tackle 11.95 km with 651 meters of gain averaging 5.4%—still challenging, but a bit more forgiving.
This pass has earned some serious street cred too—the legendary Giro d'Italia race has tested cyclists on these very roads, so you know you're on something special.
Where is it?
Presolana Pass is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 43.5101, 12.7295
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.95 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,297 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 43.5101, 12.7295
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